In this Dec. 30, 2015, file photo, Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) throws a pass during the first half of the Birmingham Bowl NCAA college football game against Auburn in Birmingham, Ala. (Butch Dill, The Associated Press)

General manager John Elway and the Broncos certainly made a bold move when they moved up to pick Paxton Lynch with the No. 26 pick in the NFL draft.

More than 80 percent of readers who voted on a denverpost.com poll felt that Lynch is the Broncos’ quarterback of the future. NFL reporter Troy Renck writes Lynch has a “big arm with quick release, can make people miss and competes with passion.”

How did the rest of the country feel about the Broncos’ first-round selection? Here’s a look at what the national media wrote:

At just under 6-foot-7 and 244 pounds, Lynch has one of the strongest arms and highest ceilings in this class. He’s an above-average athlete, showing the ability to extend plays with his mobility and pick up first downs when he scrambles. Lynch lacks polish, though. He played in a scheme that simplified his reads, and he doesn’t always see the entire field despite his height. He fails to locate the open man at times.

Been shoveling snow? Skiing? Ice fishing? Well, here’s your chance to catch up on the Broncos draft with hopes that the sun might actually peek its head out this week.

QB Paxton Lynch, 6-7, 244, Memphis, first-round, 26th overall: Bears striking resemblance to Brock Osweiler (and Kevin from The Backstreet Boys). Big arm with quick release, can make people miss and competes with passion. Hasn’t played under center since freshman season in college. Team has luxury to be patient with him as improves footwork and learns West Coast offense.

DT Adam Gotsis, 6-5, 282, Georgia Tech, second round, 63rd overall: An Australian brute. Defensive line coach Bill Kollar loves his work ethic, attitude, mean streak. He sees some similarities to Derek Wolfe. Most teams didn’t have him ranked this high on their draft boards. He currently weighs 298 pounds with 10 percent body fat. “He’s a beast,” general manager John Elway said.

When it came time to announce the final pick in the NFL draft, organizers had fashioned a jersey for the player selected: A Broncos jersey with “Mr. Irrelevant” on the back above the No. 253, the pick number.

However, Denver had earlier traded the pick to Tennessee. No one bothered to create a Titans jersey, so they just came out with the Broncos jersey and a Tennessee helmet.

Paxton Lynch’s Colorado connections were developed long before John Elway selected him with the No. 26 pick in the draft Thursday.

Lynch, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound quarterback with a strong arm and quick feet, idolized one of the early dual-threat quarterbacks in Kordell Stewart, one of CU’s most prolific passers in history.

“That’s my man right there,” Lynch said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “I had a Slash poster in my room all through college and in my younger days.”

Lynch and Stewart share the same agent, Leigh Steinberg, and the two first met at Steinberg’s Super Bowl party in San Francisco in February.

“I called him on the phone a couple times. He’s just like any other kid that idolizes a certain player,” said Stewart, who was in Colorado earlier this month to promote his new book, “Truth: The Kordell Stewart Story.” “But I just told him, ‘Man, just keep doing you. Don’t get caught up in the mix and just enjoy yourself. It wasn’t really a lot I had to say. I just said, ‘Enjoy the moment. Have fun. It only comes a few times in your life when you have these types of opportunities.’

“That’s kind of the angle I gave him so that as he moves forward and is doing what he’s going he can enjoy it. And ‘Don’t feel like you have to do it the way everybody tells you. Just be you in the process. You’re in a world of being judged. If you can consistent long term, it’ll benefit you.’ That’s really all our conversation was about. It wasn’t about trying to give him what I experienced, thinking it was going to happen to him, because it probably won’t. But just let him know, ‘Hey, just enjoy the ride.'”

Draft day arrives and makes that Kevin Coster movie, if only briefly, seem reasonable. Talks of trades, nose divers and high risers have flooded the airwaves and Twitter feeds. The Broncos sit in an intriguing spot at No. 31. Paxton Lynch, who appears to be sliding on boards. could be available. Would they trade up or take him if available? And if the Broncos aren’t convinced he fits, trading out of the pick to a team that wants a quarterback makes sense given the fifth-year rookie option’s role in development.

Consider this an appetizer of possibilities. If I knew who the Broncos were picking, I’d be watching the draft from a beach or in Las Vegas. Here we go….

Day three (rounds four through seven) selections will be made live from the base of Mary Jane Territory at Winter Park Resort by former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom, cheerleader Christina and a fan.

The Broncos currently have 10 picks in the NFL Draft, which will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer during a game in Denver in 2006. (RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post)

The Broncos will head west for their Day 3 draft selections.

The team’s selections for rounds 4-6 will be announced live from the base of Mary Jane Territory at Winter Park Resort on Saturday by a few familiar faces: former quarterback Jake Plummer; two-time Olympic skier and former Colorado receiver, Jeremy Bloom; and Broncos cheerleader Christina. Should the Broncos hold onto to all of their picks in the latter rounds, a fan will be selected to announce.

Plummer, a 10-year veteran who holds the second-highest winning percentage (.722, 39-15 record) among Broncos quarterbacks, led the team to three straight playoff berths from 2003-05 before retiring on his own volition in 2007.

Bloom, a former CU receiver and punt returner, is the only athlete in history to ski in the Winter Olympics — twice — and play in the NFL. He was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round (No. 147) of the 2006 draft. Following a stint with the Steelers, Bloom returned to competitive skiing as part of the 2010 United States Olympic team.Read more…

Derek Wolfe will host a draft party at Celebrity Lanes in Centennial on Thursday. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe will host an NFL draft party at Celebrity Lanes in Centennial on Thursday to benefit his Wolfe Pack Foundation, which helps underprivileged youth in both Colorado and his home state of Ohio, and Active Force Foundation, a nonprofit that helps the disabled participate in sports.

Wolfe will be joined by at least 20 of his Broncos teammates at the sixth annual Denver Draft Party, held from 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Opportunities for photos with players and a silent auction for signed Broncos memorabilia will be included.

Tickets can be purchased at DenverDraftParty.com, but those interested in attending must also register by calling 303-688-9412. Space is limited for those wanting to bowl with the players.

The only thing certain about the draft process is nothing is certain. The Broncos main needs – quarterback, defensive line, inside linebackers have been well-documented leading up to the NFL draft.

The Broncos know their needs as well as anyone, but they’ve been successful in the John Elway era by staying true to their board and avoiding the reach for need. The strengths in the draft are in the trenches on both lines and in the secondary. I’d expect the Broncos to select at least one of each position and a quarterback.

It’s always good when sports can both entertain and bring a smile to our faces.

The Broncos announced Friday that they have collaborated with the NFL and Make-A-Wish Colorado to grant 16-year-old Daniel Hailpern’s wish of announcing the Broncos first pick in the NFL Draft. Hailpern, a Leukemia survivor, will do so along side NFL commissioner Roger Goddell in Chicago.

Hailpern and his family will fly to Chicago on Wednesday, April 27 for the draft and its surrounding activities. Hailpern spent nine months in 2014 at the Children’s Hospital Colorado, the official hospital of the Broncos, receiving treatment and care leading up to and after a successful bone marrow transplant.

“Make-A-Wish Colorado is beyond excited for Daniel’s opportunity at the 2016 NFL Draft,” Make-A-Wish Colorado’s President & CEO Joan Mazak said. “We are so fortunate to have the support of the Denver Broncos and to partner with such a great organization to help fulfill the wishes of our football-loving kids.”

Hailpern began a one hour radio talk show during his time at the hospital titled Daniel’s P[R]eview Show. Several Broncos players and local celebrities appeared on the show that still runs today. Hailpern also interviewed receiver Demaryius Thomas at Dove Valley last season.

Denver currently holds the No. 31 pick and last selection in Thursday’s first-round of the NFL draft.

Denver Post file)” width=”495″ height=”354″ class=”size-large wp-image-39227″ /> Rangeview wide receiver JohnTidwell, front, reaches out for a pass as Arapahoe cornerback Blake Nelson covers in the second quarter of the team’s Class 5A, East Metro Conference high school football game in Aurora, Colo., Sept. 2, 2010 (Denver Post file)

Nine prospects were invited to the Broncos local pro day Tuesday with a chance to show off their talents in front of all of the Broncos decision makers.

At least one, former Rangeview High cornerback John Tidwell, took full advantage of his opportunity. He received a call just 10 minutes after his pro day saying the front office and coaches were impressed with his performance, per his agent.

Tidwell, 6-foot, 191 pounds, was the cornerback invited to the local pro day. His speed, instincts and versatility as a returner stood out. He starred at the University of Sioux Falls, a Division II college in South Dakota.

The Vikings and Jaguars have also expressed interest in Tidwell so the Broncos could have competition in Tidwell as an undrafted free agent or possibly a late round draft choice.

Max McCaffrey, the former Duke receiver and the oldest son of Ed McCaffrey, will work out for the Broncos on Tuesday as part of the team’s local pro day for athletes from area high schools.

Max, a former Valor Christian standout, turned heads with his performance at Duke’s Pro Day last month, when he recorded a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and a 36-inch vertical jump.

Last season he led the Blue Devils with 52 catches, 643 receiving yards and five touchdowns to cap his four-year career with 117 receptions, 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Broncos’ recent re-signing of Jordan Norwood gives them six receivers heading into offseason workouts and training camp, with Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer and Jordan Taylor all returning. Should Max impress again Tuesday, the Broncos could give him a shot to compete in training camp and even vie for a spot on the practice squad.

Ben Clarke, a former Chatfield High and University of Hawaii offensive lineman, is also scheduled to work out for the Broncos on Tuesday.

Clarke (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) played his first two collegiate seasons at center before shifting to left tackle for the last two. In 2015, he was named Hawaii’s MVP and was an honorable mention All-Mountain West selection for all four year seasons with the Rainbow Warriors.Read more…

The NFL announced Tuesday that they have done away with the league-ran rookie symposium and replaced it with a new rookie transition program hosted by each NFL team.

The new format includes each team’s drafted and undrafted rookies for the first time. The switch was designed to ensure each team had a customized orientation program for rookies to adjust to the community and NFL.

Denver, as well as the rest of the AFC, will host their programs June 22-24. The NFC programs are scheduled to run June 20-22.

Teams will be mandated to include core discussions on social responsibility, respect at work, mental health, character and values, and player engagement resources.Read more…

In this Dec. 30, 2015, file photo, Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott (15) looks to pass against North Carolina State during the Belk Bowl NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C.

Former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott will visit the Broncos facility Tuesday, per an NFL source.

Prescott, 6-foot-2, 226 pounds, was an athletic playmaker in college throwing for 3,793 yards, 29 TDs and five interceptions while also rushing for 588 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior season. He showed dramatic improvement in throwing mechanics throughout his college career transitioning from a red-zone running quarterback to an accurate pocket passer completing 66.2 percent of his passes by senior season.

He was arrested for driving under the influence last month in Starkville, MS two days after his pro day. He later apologized for his mistake.

Max McCaffrey makes a catch in a 2014 game against Georgia Tech. (Scott Cunningham, Getty Images)

Former Duke receiver and the oldest son of Ed McCaffrey, Max McCaffrey, has pre-draft workout scheduled with the Broncos.

Max recently impressed at Duke’s Pro Day, recording a 4.4-second 40-yard dash that would have ranked third among receivers and 10th overall at the NFL scouting combine in February.

A former Valor Christian standout, Max had 52 catches for 643 yards and five touchdowns his senior season at Duke. In his four seasons total with the Blue Devils, he had 117 catches for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Vanderbilt linebacker Stephen Weatherly (45) runs 11 yards for a touchdown after blocking a punt against Massachusetts in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 34-31. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

The Broncos draft coverage took a little longer to kick into full gear than the rest of the NFL because they were busy winning a Super Bowl, but now that the draft draws closer they’ve started to bring in possible selections.

LSU cornerback Rashard Robinson and Vanderbilt outside linebacker Stephen Weatherly were the first two draft prospects to be welcomed to Dove Valley for pre-draft visits Monday. Read more…

Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Denver Broncos as the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 30, 2015, in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast, The Associated Press)

Now that the opening waves of free agency and league meetings are complete, we can finally have a better grasp on what the Broncos may do in the 2016 NFL draft. It’s a month away and the Super Bowl champions still have quite a few holes to fill.

Thanks to a handful of compensatory picks, the Broncos will have 10 selections on draft day. Keep in my mind, this is done based on where players are likely to fall based on their draft stock (e.g. the Broncos won’t be able to get Carson Wentz with pick No. 31, sorry). Here’s the first edition of my mock draft: Read more…

The Broncos headed into the free agency’s legal tampering period with several free agents to retain and even more holes to fill on the team. The only problem — they didn’t have much money to do it.

When the legal tampered period opened, the Broncos had just $8.7 million in cap space to spend, according to Spotrac. Even after Peyton Manning’s retirement freed up $19 million in the 2016 salary cap, the Broncos had the second lowest cap figure in the NFL.

Tuesday, the Broncos cut three veterans and nearly doubled that cap figure. The release of guard Louis Vasquez cleared $5.5 million off the Broncos’ 2016 salary cap. Letting go of tight end Owen Daniels saved the Broncos $2.5 million and long snapper Aaron Brewer’s departure opened up $430,000 to spend in 2016. The moves also added nearly $4 million in “dead money” to Denver’s cap.

With Manning, Vasquez, Daniels and Brewer all off the Broncos’ books, it opened up $27.43 million in cap space.

Yet the Broncos have just shy of $17 million in cap space as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Spotrac. A common misconception is that Manning’s $19 million released the Broncos from cap issues. That would be incorrect. Denver was several million over the cap prior to Manning’s retirement. Plus, Denver lost a little over $4 million in cap space by placing tenders on restricted free agents linebacker Brandon Marshall and running back C.J. Anderson.

The Broncos have the NFL’s lowest adjusted salary cap figure of $154,095,041 due to a small amount of carry over from the 2015 salary cap and a NFL-high in deductions from their 2016 salary cap due to achieved contract incentives and other 2015 salary cap adjustments.

As the Broncos’ quarterback situation with Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler takes center stage, Denver must also prepare to possibly face life without two of their defensive studs. Linebacker Danny Trevathan will test free agency and defensive end Malik Jackson is expected to dip his feet in the waters as well.

Both guys came in the league as late-round draft picks playing on low-paid rookie deals. Now, they have a Super Bowl ring with an eye to cash in with a big contract. They might be outside of the Broncos budget.

“One of those guys will end up with John Fox in Chicago. I’m pretty sure of that,” Joel Corry, a former agent and current salary cap expert for CBS Sports, said of Jackson and Trevathan.

Denver has expressed a strong interest in retaining Jackson, but they have to be prepared to replace him along with several other free agents that are likely to move on to other teams this offseason.

ESPN college football analyst Todd McShay has University of Indiana offensive tackle Jason Spriggs projected to the Broncos at No. 31 in his Mock Draft 3.0. Spriggs, 6-foot-7, 307 pounds, flew up most experts draft boards over the last few weeks due to his impressive athleticism and solidified it with a great performance at the NFL Combine. He ran a 4.94 40-yard dash and leaped a 9-foot-7-inch broad jump, both first among all offensive linemen. He also did 31 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, fourth among offensive linemen.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.